550 
FOREST AND STREAM 
[Oct. i, 1910. 
Clay Bird Shooting from a Boat. 
To the various arts which are taught at the shooting 
school the latest addition is shooting from a boat, in 
the fens of .Lincolnshire and of the adjoining counties, 
in lakes and on lochs, also on the various tidal waters 
round the coast, some of the best shooting is obtainaule 
from boats, liven the snipe on the huniole mill pond 
is frequently best approached front the water, or, at any 
rate, one gun may advantageously be so placed to work 
in collaboration with someone on the bank, a dog or 
dogs working the reeds between. The \vest London 
Shooting School, which is ever on the lookout lor 
novelties in shooting practice, has lately dug a pond, 
conveniently situated, 111 the neighborhood ol the high 
tower and in juxtaposition to the grouse butts, whore 
provision exists lor throwing low crossing shots from a 
variety of directions. 
The most competent performer with a gun would find 
himself very much at sea, so to speak, if asked to re¬ 
peat some of his favorite shots from a boat. Yachting 
experience teaches a man the etiquette of rowing or 
being rowed in a dinghy, but, even so, there is a great 
difference between mere sitting still in a boat and main¬ 
taining constant readiness to shoot 111 any direction, 
floats for this class of work are either Hat-bottomed or, 
at any rate, of as light draft as possible consistent with 
safety. One person as a rule rows, while the other 
ing out this program. The man rowing is as a rule on 
the front seat, and to keep the boat’s nose from plow¬ 
ing too deeply into the water, the shooter has no al- 
ternavite but to sit at the stern of the boat. His power 
of shooting is considerably circumscribed by the fact 
of facing the rower. He can only comfortably take 
birds on the left, presuming, of course, that he fires 
from the right shoulder in the ordinary • way. Overhead 
birds are at all times difficult shots, because of the im¬ 
possibility of taking them well forward, due to the 
proximity to the muzzle of the gun of the rower's ear. 
If the shooter occupies the middle seat with his back 
to the rower perfect freedom exists, but at the disad¬ 
vantage of only being able to fire behind, whereas 
most of the birds rise in advance of the boat. This is 
remedied, when slow rowing suffices, by working the 
boat backwards, the high stern, due to having the 
shooter in the middle seat, assisting this form ot pro¬ 
pulsion. When the direction is reversed, and ordinary 
rowing is adopted, the shooter must move to the back 
seat, and thenceforward limit his shots to birds showing 
on the left. 
A specially designed rowboat would contain, in the 
place of the ordinary seats at the back, a sort of music- 
stool arrangement, the rotation of which would enable 
shots to be taken in almost any direction. Forward ones 
could be accomplished when necessary by standing up 
and shooting well clear of the rower’s head. Fetter still, 
from the shooting point of view, would be a longer boat 
ballasted or otherwise weighted behind, so that the 
shooter could instal his rotating stool in front. Such 
a boat would, however, be somewhat unseaworthv, and 
in any event difficult to manipulate when gathering 
wounded game from the water. The problem is certainly 
an interesting one, and no doubt many shooters have 
solved it to their own satisfaction by adopting various 
home-made devices. Perhaps the simplest and most 
effective temporary measure is to place on the seat a 
hard cushion about 3in. thick, covered with painted 
canvas so as to be readily freed from salt-water splash- 
ings. The extra height is advantageous, because the leg 
room imparts greater freedom of motion to the body. 
The necessity for constant alertness and the need to 
jump up at any moment and take a shot which is im¬ 
possible in the crouched sitting position, introduce prob¬ 
lems which do not arise in ordinary shooting. The 
evening flight of duck is often enjoyed to greatest ad¬ 
vantage from a boat, all birds that’ fall on the water 
being easy to gather, while those on the mud may wait 
till a convenient opportunity arrives for fetching them. 
A boat is warm and dry compared with the tub sunk in 
the ooze, and it may be concealed under sea walls or 
in low-lving creeks at most states of the t’de. the m 
trouble being to maintain the standard of shooting form 
which has been acquired by practice on dry land. 
At Ealing the facilities now exist for obtaining tuition 
in this very sporting style of shooting. Their boat 
joggles and turns and twists and nearly capsizes with 
sufficient frequency to be thoroughly realistic. It has 
a flat bottom, and is not always thoroughly bailed out, 
so that the margin for uncalculated movements is ex¬ 
tremely small. To take a high bird thrown from the 
top story of the tower at the precise moment that the 
boat collides with the bank is to wish that the two 
movements were equal and opposite, rather than work¬ 
ing in combination, with malicious intention to send the 
shooter overboard. The alternative of sitting down and 
taking low-flying and other birds right and left is to 
wish for a turn-table joint in the region of the hips. 
Left-hand birds, though presenting least difficulty, are 
usually taken with rather less swing and rather more 
forward snapping than is usual. Birds on the right are 
best dealt with by rising from the seat and importing 
a slight swing to the body, which enables the neces¬ 
sary forward allowance to be provided. 
Another very interesting shot is to sit with the back 
to the high tower and have the birds thrown so that 
they must be shot as overhead going-away birds. The 
ordinary swing with the birds is impossible, and the 
problem resolves itself into a quick snap at a point in 
front of the bird. Wonderful timing is necessary to 
pull the trigger so as to make the charge of shot inter¬ 
sect the line of the bird’s flight at the psychological 
moment. Several right and lefts were obtained under 
these conditions, so showing that shots of the most 
difficult nature, which occur too infrequently for prac¬ 
tice to be obtained, can be mastered at the shooting 
school, so that the conditions of success may be stored 
in the mind for future use. This particular kind of 
shot is frequently taken in cover shooting by the keen 
sportsman who keeps a weather eye open for stray wood- 
pigeons. The Ealing boat is apparently 
for taking shots in a standing position. The bottom 
being flat and the sides vertical, there is very little com¬ 
pensating buoyancy to counteract - a sideways lurch. 
1 m the other hand, it works very well for practice in the 
sitting position, and after a very short time the special 
difficulties of boat shooting nearly disappear. Many hours 
on the water are, however, necessary to attain the readi¬ 
ness of a practiced wildfowler. He is used to rowing 
as well as shooting, and his power of dropping the oars 
to take up the gun and let off a well-aimed shot has to 
be seen to be appreciated. A proportion of the wild- 
fowler’s skill is worth cultivation by those shooters who 
own water frequented by duck or snipe. Bags may not 
always be large, but the manipulation of a boat adds 
sufficient interest to the proceedings to prevent any 
suggestion of monotony. Coot driving in Norfolk affords 
many exciting experiences, while making great demands 
on the shooter's power of doing himself justice firing 
from a boat. No better idea was ever developed than 
to introduce the conditions of boat shooting on a 
miniature scale at a shooting school.—The Field 
(.London). 
Uniontown Gun Club. 
Uniontown, Pa., Sept. 20. — Our gun club gave its 
registered shoot yesterday, and forty-two lovers of the 
gun toed the mark, all but five shooting through the 
entire program. C. F. Moore was high amateur with 145 
targets broken. F. B. T. and Guyton second and third 
respectively with 143 and 142. F. C. Robinson was the 
efficient secretary. Scores: 
Events: 123 4’ 56789 10 Broke. 
\Ym Gribble . 13 11 13 11 10 13 13 14 13 14 125 
H R Bovd. 8 15 12 13 10 1114 12 1110 116 
E C Phillips.10 14 10 13 13 12 13 11 12 14 122 
\Y H Schuyler. 14 12 13 13 14 10 14 11 9 13 123 
T Gates . 11 15 13 15 11 12 10 11 13 13 124 
E G Kaiser. 11 11 13 10 8 11 10 14 11 12 111 
T B T . 15 15 14 13 15 15 14 13 15 14 143 
C S Crawford. 14 15 15 14 14 13 14 12 15 12 138 
K F Crawford. 13 13 15 14 13 13 15 11 13 13 133 
L V Foster. 13 13 11 15 15 14 14’ 14 14 13 136 
R S Denniker. 14 13 15 15 12 15 12 15 15 15 140 
C F Suter.15 15 14 15 12 14 15 13 15 14 140 
C F Moore. 15 15 15 14 14 14 15 14 15 14 145 
T I Morrison . 12 14 14 14 14 14 15 11 13 15 136 
Geo Marker . 14 14 15 15 15 13 12 14' 14 15 141 
R T West. 14 12 15 14 15 14 14 13 14 13 138 
W J Lyons . 11 11 10 8 12 12 10 12 12 13 111 
Frank Dawson . 10 10 10 10 12 9 15 12 14 12 114 
Frank G Sessler .11 14 13 13 12 11 11 12 13 12 122 
G C Gault. 8 9 9 12 11 8 11 16 9 9 92 
Cooper . 14 13 12 14 13 12 14 15 8 14 129 
Guyton . 15 15 14 14 14 14 15 14 13 14 142 
Hichev . 12 11 10 15 11 9 15 14 9 9 114 
Robbie . 11 12 12 13 11 12 13 12 14 15 125 
Evans . 13 14 11 13 13 12 10 12 12 10 120 
Bortz . 10 10 9 7 13 8 6 11 12 9 96 
Burchinal . 12 13 15 13 14 15 10 12 13 13 130 
Dad . 12 15 12 15 12 11 12 13 13 13 12S 
Smith . 14 12 13 13 9 8 12 12 13 .. 100 
Carrol . 7 9 10 11 13 11 13 13 11 8 106 
Martin . 6 3 9 6 8 5 6 3 7 8 61 
T K Gates. 13 13 13 5. 44 
G F Titlow.11 14 14. 39 
Craft . 10 10 11 8 11 13 17 9 .. 79 
C Gribble . 10 12 11 10. 43 
A Hogan . 8 10. 18 
Professionals: 
H Keller . 12 15 14 13 12 13 13 15 13 14 134 
Luther T Squier. 14 15 15 14 14 14 13 13 13 14 137 
Tames Lewis . 15 13 15 14 14 14 13 13 15 14 142 
H E Young. 11 11 13 14 13 13 10 12 9 11 117 
P T Evans. 12 14 14 14 13 14 12 12 15 11 131 
J C Garland. 15 13 12 13 14 14 12 11 14 12 130 
Newton (III.) Gun Club. 
Newton, Ill., Sept. 19.—A one-day shoot was run off 
by the Newton Gun Club to-day. In the special event 
for a Baker gun, Chas. A. Young and Dan Haven tied 
with 20 each. Scores: 
Events: 123456789 10 11 12 
Targets: 15 20 15 10 15 20 15 20 20 15 15 20 Brk. 
C H Albught. 12 19 14 8 13 IS 11 18 16 12 11 18 170 
C M Franke. 6 12 11 8 11 16 12 18 17 13 12 18 154 
Geo Roebuck . 10 19 11 10 15 18 14 18 18 14 15 17 179 
R M Fusbay. 12 12 13 7 13 17 12 17 IS 13 11 16 161 
Ed Wilson .. 8 12 10 .... 11. 30 
Rov Shup . 11. 11 
W H Haws. 13 16 12 10 14 17 11 18 18 13 14 16 172 
Tas Rush . 14 17 13 7 14 IS 11 16 19 8 14 19 170 
E Parkhurst . 9 18 H 5 10 12. 65 
O N Ford... 15 20 15 10 14 18 13 19 18 15 14’ 19 190 
Elmer Neal.18 11 15 16 11 13 15 104 
Don Haven . 0 0 0 0 0 0 O'14 15 8 9 18 64 
Geo Speasel.10. 10 
Professionals: 
C G Spencer . 15 20 14 10 15 20 15 19 20 15 15 20 198 
Homer Clark .... 15 20 14 10 15 19 15 20 17 15 15 19 194 
Tohn S Boa. 14 17 15 8 12 18 12 15 19 12 11 16 169 
Chas A Young.... 13 19 15 10 13 19 14 18 19 14 14 19 187 
E S Graham. 14 19 14 9 14 19 14 19 19 15 15 19 190 
A Killen . 14 18 14 10 13 18 15 19 18 15 15 20 189 
C. M. Franke, Sec’y. 
East Millstone Gun Club. 
Secretary F. A. Jackson writes us that the “annual 
Columbus Day shoot of the East Millstone, N. J.. Gun 
Club, will be held Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 1:30 P. M. 
Whitehouse vs. East Millstone, five-man team race, 50 
targets per man. Events 1 to 5, at 20 targets, entrance 
$1.40 each; events 6 and 7, at 25 targets, entrance $1.50 
each. Last 50 targets to constitute team race. At our 
last shoot thirty-five took part. At this shoot we ex¬ 
pect to have at least fifty. Any one may shoot for 
target- only. High amateur guns, $3, $2, $1. Money 
divided Hose system. 5, 3, 2, 1. All standard loads for 
sale on the grounds.” 
Westy Hogan Shoot—1910. 
The Squier money-back system worked as follows at 
the recent Westy Hogan tournament: 
One hundred pnd forty amateurs shot through the en¬ 
tire three days’ program for the money. 
Eighty-two failed to win their entrance, less price of 
targets. Their losses varied from 10 cents to $32.35.. 
The total losses amounted to $1,020.05. Losses were based 
on total entrance of $44', less targets, $10, or $34 net. 
The purse created under the money-back system 
amounted to $1,521.85. This was made up from the added 
money (one cent for each target thrown and the $1 per 
day extra entrance). After paying all losses in full 
($1,020.05), a surplus of $501.80 was left for high guns. 
This, according to the division of surplus money, went to 
the thirty high guns. 
The names of those who participated in the division 
of this surplus or average money, together with their 
totals and the amount that each received, follow: 
J R Graham. 
F S Wright. 
C H Newcomb ... 
Fred Coleman ... 
H P Herrman_ 
A B Richardson.. 
O D Williams.... 
C E Mink.: 
G E Painter. 
H Schlicher . 
W A Wiedebusch 
Wm Shattuck .... 
T E Crayton . 
A Heil . 
D A Edwards.... 
L S Page. 
B V Covert. 
T L Tolcott. 
H E Smith. 
D L Culver . 
J D Burtis . 
F M Edwards.... 
C de Ouillfeldt ... 
F A SlcNeir. 
Lon Fisher . 
T E Clay. 
O E Carpenter... 
J A Flick. 
J L Englert. 
T D Hackett. 
Total. 
Score. 
Amount. 
489 
$55.25 
483 
50.25 
480 
54.20 
477 
40.20 
472 
40.20 
469 
35.10 
467 
30.10 
466 
25.10 
463 
18.80 
463 
. 18.80 
463 
18.80 
463 
18.80 
462 
12.60 
462 
12.60 
461 
5.00 
4’61 
5.00 
460 
5.00 
459 
5.00 
459 
5.00- 
458 
5.00 
458 
5.00 
457 
5.00 
457 
5.00 
457 
5.00 
, 457 
5.00 
. 455 
5.00 
. 454 
5.00 
. 454 
5.00 
. 454 
5.00 
. 454 
5.00 
. $501.80 
Trap in Oklahoma. 
Perry, Okla., Sept. 16. — Our Gun Club’s two-day tour¬ 
nament was shot on their grounds on the 14th and 15th 
inst. There were ten 20-target events each day, and T. B. 
Newton carried off high average for the two days with 
384 breaks, Ed. O’Brien, professional, rolling up the 
splendid total of 396, a 99 per cent, performance. There 
was a special event each day at 15 pairs of doubles. 
Scores: 
Shot at. Broke Shot at. Broke 
T B Newton_ 
400 
384 
C Y Zutavem.. 
. 400 
357 
W C Williams.. 
400 
383 
Joe Bell . 
. 400 
356- 
T T Hartman... 
400 
381 
S W Burr. 
, 400 
344 
PI Dixon . 
400 
380 
O Mentzer . 
. 400 
330 
F Huston . 
400 
380 
Harry Bettis .. 
. 400 
329 
T Appleman .... 
400 
375 
O H Nutt. 
. 280 
249 
D B Harriman.. 
400 
371 
R Frazier . 
. 200 
iso- 
Dick Bates _ 
4’00 
368 
Tom Ray . 
. 200 
183 
R Carpenter ... 
400 
361 
T D Sweet. 
. 200 
176 
W R Campbell. 
400 
358 
Professionals 
Ed O’Brien .... 
400 
396 
H Donnelly ... 
. 400 
376. 
Ed Fosgard .... 
400 
392 
Chris Gottlieb. 
. 400 
375 
W II Heer. 
400 
391 
Fred Bell * ... 
. 400 
374 
F M Faurote.... 
400 
382 
Dave Elliott ... 
..200 
160 
The event at 15 
pams 
of 
doubles had scores as 
foil 
ovvs: 
1st day. 2d day 
1st day. 2d day 
O PI Nutt. 
23 
22 
Dick Bates . 
18 
16 
F Huston . 
27 
23 
() Mentzer . 
16 
16 
R Carpenter .... 
18 
18 
S W Burr. 
21 
17- 
F T Hartman... 
25 
24 
W R Campbell.. 
21 
23 
H Dixon . 
22 
24 
C V Zutavam... 
18 
22 
Toe Bell . 
20 
21 
1 W Appleman. 
25 
25 
T B Newton.... 
21 
16 
Kay Frazier .... 
25 
21 
D B Harriman.. 
25 
22 
J D Sweet. 
18 
Professionals: 
H W Pleer. 
24’ 
29 
H Donnelly .... 
21 
22 
Ed O'Brien _ 
27 
23 
Fred Bell . 
23 
Ed Fosgard .... 
26 
.. 
C Gottlieb . 
2i 
Cincinnati (0.) Gun Club. 
A heavy shower early in the afternoon on Sept. 24 cut 
down the attendance at the weekly shoot, only seven 
men coming out to the grounds. Of these, Connelly and 
Kerkmeyer shot at ICO, the former being high with 84. 
The latter is a new member, and made a very good: 
showing for a first attempt. Everything is in readiness 
for the tournament and a good crowd is expected. Lou 
Alders, one of the club’s veterans, was over. He has 
done little shooting in the past three years, and did 
not do as well as he used to in the old days. The scores r 
Targets: 
15 
15 
15 
20 
Total. 
Connelly . 
99 
20 
20 
22 
84 
Dr Bird . 
. 20 
20 
14 
54 
Berknteyer . 
15 
10 
7 
39 
McFee . 
22 
Aiders . 
. 14’ 
i2 
12 
is 
56 
Kirshner . 
. 10 
10 
15 
13 
48 
Brown . 
. 10 
30 
9 
12 
41 
The Forest and Stream may be obtained from any 
new-dealer on order. Ask your dealer to supply you 
regularly. 
